Volcanic eruption halts flights at Jakarta and seven other Indonesian airports

An eruption of the Anak Krakatau volcano on Saturday sent a dense ash cloud over Indonesia’s capital region, forcing the closure of eight airports, including the Soekarno‑Hatta International Airport that serves Jakarta. The shutdown, extended until 9:30 p.m. local time on Sunday, halted hundreds of flights—more than 22,000 passengers on 209 scheduled services were affected, with major carriers such as Singapore Airlines and Qantas cancelling all Jakarta‑bound operations for the day. International routes to Singapore, Doha, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur were disrupted, while at least 16 domestic flights to Bali were also cancelled.

The eruption, which produced lava and booming sounds heard up to 700 km away, also interfered with daily life beyond aviation. Schools in the vicinity suspended activities after students and residents experienced eye irritation, and local fishermen abandoned planned trips. Authorities warned that volcanic ash can severely damage aircraft engines, fuel and air systems, and even impair pilots’ windshields, prompting the precautionary airport closures. In response, Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency BNPB announced a weather‑modification operation that may include cloud‑seeding to induce heavy rain, aiming to wash the ash from the air and restore normal conditions.

Anak Krakatau, meaning “child of Krakatau,” sits in the strait between Java and Sumatra and has been intermittently active since emerging from the sea in the caldera left by the catastrophic 1883 Krakatau eruption, which claimed roughly 35,000 lives. To protect maritime traffic, port authorities have barred ships from approaching within two miles of the volcano and urged vigilance. The current ash fallout underscores the ongoing threat posed by the volcano’s activity to regional transport, tourism and local livelihoods.

⚡ Effects Interpreter